Illustrating how the paradigmatic thinking of Westerners at this time frequently obstructed their efforts to understand Chinese medical theory, Barnes provides a succinct yet comprehensive overview of the early history of medical thought in the Western world, from the theories of Hippocrates and Galen to the writings of Islamic philosophers and physicians such as Rhazes and Avicenna.

The great Arab and Persian philosophers and scientists--al Kindi, (800AD), Rhazes, (865AD) and Avicenna (980AD)--all wrote books on perfumery and distillation techniques, demonstrating for the first time in history how to mass produce perfume.

It is interesting to read a description of its medical action by Rhazes as one of the earliest writers on coffee: "It is hot and dry in the first degree but according to others cold in the first degree.

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